86 Schunck . — The Chemistry of Chlorophyll . 
coloured lake, which yields up its base to an acid at once, is 
evident ; first because it takes time for completion even with 
strong acids, and secondly, because-— taking the case of the 
change produced at once in a solution of chlorophyll by a 
little hydrochloric acid — the original green colour is not 
restored by an excess of alcoholic soda, as it would probably 
be were the action a very simple one, like the decomposition of 
a saline compound by an acid stronger than the one contained 
in it. Russell and Lapraik come to the conclusion that the 
change is a molecular, not a chemical one. In this opinion I 
cannot concur, so far at least as regards the final product of 
the action of strong acids, which I take to be identical with 
Fremy’s phyllocyanin. As to the initial product of the 
action of strong acids, which shows only four absorption- 
bands — Russell and Lapraik limit them to three — I pronounce 
no opinion, having made no attempt to isolate it or to 
ascertain its other properties. It may be a mere so-called 
modification of chlorophyll, or it may be identical with the 
chlorophyllan of Hoppe-Seyler. 
On reading Professor Pringsheim’s memoir on chlorophyll 1 
it occurred to me that his hypochlorin might represent the 
initial product of the action of acids on chlorophyll. Pro- 
fessor Pringsheim obtained the substance referred to by 
acting on green leaves of any kind with dilute hydrochloric 
acid. After the leaves had been immersed in the acid for 
some time it was found, on microscopic examination, that 
masses of a reddish-brown colour had formed on and attached 
to the chlorophyll-corpuscles, these masses sometimes 
throwing out long rods mostly bent or twisted and pointed at 
the ends and having the appearance rather of a crystalloid 
than of a crystallised substance. This body, or rather the 
body contained in the chlorophyll-corpuscles from which it is 
formed by the action of acids, Pringsheim supposes to be the 
basis of chlorophyll itself — hence the name hypochlorin ; — but 
in what sense this is to be understood is to myself at least 
1 lichtwirkung u. Chlorophyllfunction in d. Pflanze, Leipzig, 1881. 
